Revolvable station for processing a movable procession of factory-work pieces such as animal carcasses

ABSTRACT

There is provided novel revolvable processing stations adapted for use within assembly-line type factory installations wherein a procession of factory-work pieces, such as animal carcasses, carried at selected intervals along a movable conveyor are brought consecutively alongside a series of processing stations. In the meat processing plant situation, a continuously movable elevated conveyor-line passes substantially arcuately alongside each rotatable processing station and at a desired velocity synchronization therewith whereby operating personnel positioned upon the rotatable dressing station might perform their appointed tasks upon the continuously movable procession of animal carcasses in an exceedingly proficient and rapid manner. The novel rotatable dressing station herein might also include one or more stationary platforms in conjunction therewith whereby operating personnel might take more effective advantage of the dressing station rotatable portion. More sophisticated embodiments of the novel dressing station herein include for the rotatable portion, a plurality of elevations therefor and pivotably connected separable chordal sections for more efficient and versatile utilization of the novel dressing station.

United States Patent [191 Dirks [111 3,734,263 51 May 22,1973

Appl. No.: 159,209

U.S. Cl ..198/19, 29/200 A, 17/24, 104/35,198/177 Int. Cl. ..B23q 7/02Field of Search ..198/19, 103, 177, 198/209; 17/24, 50; 29/200 A;104/18, 20,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1959 Brem ..24/200 A 5/1962Gardiner 9/1967 Lauber Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-D. W. Keen Att0mey--Ge0rge R. Nimmer [5 7 ABSTRACT There isprovided novel revolvable processing stations adapted for use withinassembly-line type factory installations wherein a procession offactory-work pieces, such as animal carcasses, carried at selectedintervals along a movable conveyor are brought consecutively alongside aseries of processing stations. In the meat processing plant situation, acontinuously movable elevated conveyor-line passes substantiallyarcuately alongside each rotatable processing station and at a desiredvelocity synchronization therewith whereby operating personnelpositioned upon the rotatable dressing station might perform theirappointed tasks upon the continuously movable procession of animalcarcasses in an exceedingly proficient and rapid manner. The novelrotatable dressing station herein might also include one or morestationary platforms in conjunction therewith whereby operatingpersonnel might take more effective advantage of the dressing stationrotatable portion. More sophisticated embodiments of the novel dressingstation herein include for the rotatable portion, a plurality ofelevations therefor and pivotably connected separable chordal sectionsfor more efficient and versatile utilization of the novel dressingstation.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures nrrl IIT I IIlI I lllIIIllllllII PatentedMay 22, 1973 3,734,263

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /STICK SICALP /DE LEG CHANGE-OVER 9 oe-u-ze N ARTHUR A.DIR/(8 I NVE NTOR.

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BY K w ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1973 3,734,263

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 x\\\\\\\\\ &\ ARTHUR A. DIR/(5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY REVOLVABLE STATION FOR PROCESSING A MOVABLE PROCESSION OFFACTORY-WORK PIECES SUCH AS ANIMAL CARCASSES As has long been practicedin the prior art, meat animals are slaughtered and dressed in meatprocessing plants on a continuous factory-like assembly-line basis. Forexample, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,225(L.T.Force, et aL-June2, 1953 cattle, hogs, and other meat animals are slaughtered in rapidsuccession, the animal carcasses being hung at some selected regularinterval from an overhead rail or other movable conveyor which travelsthroughout the meat processing plant. Carcass dressing stations arepositioned at several locations within the meat processing plant, theoverhead conveyor-line taking a tortious route through the meatprocessing plant and alongside the series of carcass dressing stations.Thus, the incrementally spaced animal carcasses hanging from theoverhead movable conveyor-line can be worked upon by specialistpersonnel at each dressing station in factory-like assembly-linefashion, whereby a continuous hourly killrate or production-rate ofanimal slaughtering and processing can be achieved.

In prior art meat animal slaughtering and processing plants, asexemplified in the said L. T. Force, et al., patent, the tortuous routetaken by the overhead movable conveyor-line throughout the factorycomprises a plurality of successive linear-paths; the typical meatdressing station takes the form of an elongate stationary bench or tableextending in parallelism along one of the conveyor-line linear-paths.Such prevalent installations are sometimes referred to as stationarystraight bench" type factory installations. In the highly economicallycompetitive meat processing industry, there is the necessary continualquest to achieve ever higher production-rates i.e., kill-rates." In thisquest, the industry has concentrated its efforts almost exclusively torefinements of the prevalent straight stationary bench assembly-lineconcept; while such efforts have met with noteworthy successes, industryauthorities have lately come to realize the efficiency limitations ofthe stationary straight bench concept.

Contemporary design authorities for assembly-line installations haveproposed the reciprocating straight bench type factory installationwherein the bench-like dressing station (carrying operating personnelthereon) moves linearly alongside of, and at a synchonized velocitywith, a lineal-path of the movable conveyor. In this manner, theoperating personnel upon the linearly moving processing station are inoperational or working relationship with the movable factory-work piecesfor a longer time period. While higher productionrates are apparentlyachievable with the reciprocating straight bench concept, as compared tothe earlier stationary straight bench concept, linearly reciprocatingstraight benches are structurally cumbersome and expensive and require agreat deal of factory floor space to accomplish the desired result.Thus, inordinate degrees of capital expenditure are required to effecthigher production-rates through the reciprocating straight bench typeassembly-line processing stations.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention toprovide an unusually efficient novel processing station for use infactory-type assembly-line installations whereby unusually highproduction rates can be achieved on a continuous and sustained basis.

It is another general object to provide an unusually efficient novelanimal carcass dressing station for use in factory-type meat processinginstallations whereby unusually high kill rates can be achieved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel meatdressing station that is structurally economical and reliable, and thatis spatially compact such that factory floor costs are minimized.

It is a further object to provide a novel meat dressing station that canbe utilized in a variety of specific forms appropriate to the specifictype of meat dressing process operation to performed thereat.

It is yet another object to provide a rotatable processing station thatis amenable to speed synchronozation with the overhead conveyor-linepassing thereby, whereby the production rate thereat can be selectivelyvaried appropriate to the factorys desired production rate.

It is a further object to provide a meat dressing station that willaccommodate a plurality of operating personnel thereon such that eachoperator might conveniently accomplish. his assigned task in anefficient manner, without needing to motivate himself along theconveyor-line, and without interfering with the other personnel.

It is another object to provide a carcass dressing station conceptwherein sophistocated embodiments thereof might be amenable to difficultcarcass dressing operations, even such as carcass visceratingoperations.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which willbecome more apparent as this description proceeds, the novel assemblyline processing station concept generally comprises a generallyhorizontal turntable revolvably surrounding an upright-axis and beingadapted to carry operating personnel thereon, a generally arcuateproximal segment of the elongate overhead movable conveyor means beingspaced a sub stantially constant radial distance from the turntableupright-axis, and means for causing the turntable and the conveyorarcuate segment to travel at substantially identical angular velocitiesabout said upright-axis, and preferably also at least one stationaryplatform positioned alongside the rotatable turntable to assistoperating personnel to enter and to leave the rotatable turntable.

In the drawings, wherein like characters refer to like parts in theseveral views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a typical prior art meatprocessing plant assembly-line installation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing how thenovel revolvable processing stations of the instant invention might beemployed within a factory-type installation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view (taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2)showing that the rotatable tumtable has an angular speed insynchronization with the movable conveyor means for the procession offactorywork pieces.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the use of atleast one stationary platform alongside the rotatable turntable.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a meat carcass viscerating stationembodiment of the novel rotatable turntable processing station conceptof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring initially to the FIG. 1 schematic plan view which describes atypical prior art factory type installation for the dressingof'consecutive factory-work pieces such as meat animal carcasses.Conventional installations, are described in numerous prior artpublications, as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,225, issued on June 2, 1953, toLeonard T. Force, et al. Such prior art type factory installationscomprise an elongate continuously movable conveyor, usually in the formof an elongate movable overhead conveyor-line chain C, the lengthyconveyor-line traversing the factory substantially horizontally abovethe factory floor F. The lengthy conveyor-line is provided at regularintervals therealong with shackles, hooks, or similar means forremovably engaging the factory-work pieces whereby the consecutiveplurality of animal carcasses or the like, each depending from theoverhead movable conveyor-line, can be worked upon by personnel ormachinery at each carcass dressing station. For example, in the priorart the overhead conveyor-line extends from the animal killing pit 11,thence alongside and above each of a consecutive series of carcassdressing stations 12-19, and finally to a refrigerated storage cooler(not shown) for the finished meat carcass. There are conventional means(not shown) for selecting the speed at which the continuously movableconveyor-line travels, and thus, determining the hourly production rateat which animals are killed, dressed, and ultimately moved into storage.In the prior art, as exemplified by FIG. I, the individual carcassdressing stations, e.g., 12-19, each comprises an elongate stationarybench or table stably resting upon the factory floor F and positionedbeneath conveyor-line C. Thus, each of the several linear-paths 21-29 ofcontinuously movable conveyorline C are appropriate to the use oflinearly elongate stationary benches or tables at each of the severalcarcass dressing stations 12-19. The desired linearity for conveyor-linesegments 21-29 is conventionally provided with a plurality ofguide-pulleys, e.g., 31-39, each strategically positioned alongconveyor-line C. The carcass splitting and the hide pulling dressingsteps might be accomplished on stationary bench or table 17 while theviscerating step might be accomplished on stationary bench or table 19.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is schematically indicated that one or moreof the carcass dressing operations can be accomplished on the novelturntable processing station concept of the present invention. Forexample, revolvable turntables 50 (circular) and 50A (hexagonal) aresubstituted for the stationary elongate bench or table 17, while anothercircular turntable 50 is substituted for stationary elongate table 19.Each circular turntable 50 surrounds and is continuously rotatable aboutupright-axis 51 while the regularly polygonal turntable 50A is similarlycontinuously rotatable about its upright-axis 51A. In FIG. 2, for thepurposes of reference and comparison with FIG. 1, guide pulleys 35, 38,and 33 are maintained; however, guide-pulley 36 is eliminated and guidepulley 37 (re-named 37A) is positioned closer to pulley 35. A minorlength non-linear proximal-segment portion of the conveyor-line C iselevated above each turntable and is spaced a substantially constantradial distance from the turntable upright-axis whereby theconveyor-line proximal-segment and the turntable are adapted to travelat the same angular velocity about the turntable upright-axis. Forexample, guide pulleys 41-43 provide a arcuate proximal-segment conveyorportion 45 about the upright-axis 51 of each circular turntable 50,while guide pulleys 41A, 42A, and 43A, together provide a 180 arcuateproximal-segment conveyor portion 45A about the polygonal turntableupright-axis 51A. Normally, each of the conveyor-line proximal segments,e.g., 45, 45A, would comprise a plurality of small interpulleys chordallengths, rather than being perfectly smoothly arcuate. However, notwithstanding the presence of a plurality of small chordal lengths ofconveyor-line C, the proximal-segment portions 45-45A would satisfy therequirement herein for a substantially constant radial spacing from theturntable upright-axis or a generally arcuate configuration. The angularextent of the conveyor-line proximal-segment, e.g., 45, 45A, withrespect to the turntable upright-axis should be within the range of 30to 300, depending upon the type of meat dressing operation to beperformed at the turntable meat dressing station and the number andspacing of the pulleys employed.

The FIG. 3 sectional elevational view schematically indicates that theconveyor-line arcuate proximalsegment is elevated above the turntabledressing station and that there are means for causing the turntable andthe conveyor-line proximal-segment to travel at substantially identicalangular velocities about the turntable upright-axis. While the FIG. 3sectional elevational view is taken through the circular turntables 50of FIG. 2, a sectional elevational view taken through the regularlypolygonal turntable 50A would have a similar appearance. It is readilyseen in FIG. 2 that the horizontal turntable 50 might include aco-rotatable central upright-shaft 52 extending along the turntablecentral upright-axis 51 and rotatably secured to the factory floor F.Each of the guide pulleys for conveyor-line C, and including pulleys41-43, is located between the turntable and the factory ceiling 6;herein, each of the guide pulleys is in fact suspended some selecteddistance from factory ceiling G. As is well known in the prior art,conveyor-line C might carry attachment means, e.g., depending hooks I-I,spaced at selected intervals therealong whereby factory-work piecesmight be appropriately suspended at selected regular intervals alongconveyor-line C. The entire conveyor-line C is driven at some selectedspeed rate throughout the typical factory installation (FIGS. 1 and 2)through the factorys power and control center (not shown). Thus, theangular velocity of each conveyor- Iine arcuate proximal-segment aboutthe turntable upright-axis would in fact be directly dependent upon thespeed selected for the conveyor-line C to travel throughout the factory(as from kill area 11 to the final storage or cooler).

FIG. 3 schematically indicates a simplified means for causing theconveyor-line arcuate proximal-segment portion 45-45A and the verticallyaligned portions of the turntable to travel at substantially the sameangular velocity about the turntable upright-axis. In this manner, theworkman standing immobile upon the rotating turntable immediately belowthe conveyor-line arcuate proximal-segment might be made toautomatically follow a factory-work piece suspended from theconveyor-line. Moreover,a plurality of workmen, if there be a pluralityof animal carcasses suspended from the proximal-segment, might stand atregular angular intervals upon the turntable. A gearbox M is hereinactuatably connected to conveyor-line C, gearbox M having a dependingrotating shaft N which carries a corotatable gear P at the lower portionthereof. The turntable rotatable shaft 52 is provided with a corotatablegear T at the lower portion thereof, an endless annular chain Vactuatably connecting gear P to gear T. Thus, through appropriateempirical selection for the respective diameters of gears P and T theco-ordinated angular velocities of the turntable and the conveyor-line Cabout the turntable upright-axis 51 can be readily achieved. Electricalmeans, and other velocity synchronization means, are also deemed toserve the purposes herein.

FIG. 3A schematically indicates that the rotatable turntable typeprocessing station concept of the present invention might be providedwith one or more stationary platforms to assist operating personnel inentering and leaving the rotatable turntable at appropriate timeintervals. For example, the rotatable turntable 50 might be providedwith a substantially horizontal outward stationary platform 60 that atleast partially surrounds (and herein completely surrounds) the outwardperipheral-boundary 55 of rotatable turntable 50. Stationary platform 60preferably includes an inwardly extending annular upper lip 61positioned above turntable 50 and that extends inwardly of turntableoutward periphery 55 thus precluding an operator from endangeringhimself between the rotatable element 50 and the stationary element 60.The elongate endless belt V" herein passes through a sideward opening 62of the stationary platform 60. Moreover, the rotatable turntable 50might be provided with a substantially horizontal inward stationaryplatform 65. Herein, stationary platform includes a depending shaft 69extending along upright-axis 51 within tubular shaft 52A which isco-rotatable with turntable 50, stationary shaft 69 being mountable onthe factory floor F." The inward stationary platform periphery 66, whichherein completely surrounds upright-axis 51, is located some finitedistance inwardly of the outward platform inward extremity 61. Thus, ascan be readily seen in FIG. 3A, some finite radial distance (or spatialgap) exists between the stationary platforms 60 and 65 to allowoperating personnel to be positioned upon turntable 50. With the one ormore stationary platforms schematically alluded to in FIG. 3A, it ispossible for operating personnel to embark from a stationary platform atthe strategic moment when the factory-work piece, e.g., H from C,tangentially arrives at the turntable. The operator, upon concluding hisassigned task, can transfer himself from the turntable to a stationaryplatform as the factory-work piece tangentially leaves the turntablearea.

As is indicated in FIGS. 4-6, the turntable processing station conceptof the present invention is adapted even for highly complicated assemblyline tasks, such as animal carcass viscerating procedures within a meatprocessing plant. In general, the rotatable turntable 50E has a regularpolygonal (herein l2-sided) outward peripheral-boundary 55E and aregularly polygonal (l2-sided) inward peripheral-boundary 54E. Bothperipheral-boundaries 54B and 55E concentrically surround turntableupright-axis 51, and turntable 50E has a regular radial-width 54E-55E.Turntable 5015 has a substantially horizontal annular tabletop portion53E, herein having a substantially constant radially extendingfinite-width 54E-55E, as defined by the respective concentric polygonalperipheral-boundaries 54E-55E. Annular turntable 50E might includedepending operator-carrier means, such as a plurality of dependingoperator-carriers 74 and which are co-rotatable with said tabletopportion 53E and located therebelow. Herein each of the twelve chordalsides or segments of the annular turntable 50E includes an inwardoperatorcarrier 74 and an outward operator-carrier 75. There is asemi-circular horizontal inward stationary platform 65E extendingradially outwardly from upright-axis 51 and beyond the annularly arrayoperator-carriers 74 to terminate as a semi-circular periphery 66Ebeneath annular tabletop 53E. Thus, assuming that animal carcasses aresuspended (as from I-I) at regular intervals from the conveyor-linearcuate proximal-segment 45, such as for example six suspended carcassesspaced between pulleys 41 and 43, identical visceration tasks could beperformed substantially simultaneously on four of the carcasses byworkers stationed upon operator-carrier 74 of four respective chordalsegments of turntable 5013. when a finished carcass (with visceracarried by tabletop 53E) approaches the end 43 of proximal-segment 45,the worker(s) would depart from the operator-carrier 74 at his assignedchordal segment and walk along stationary platform 65E toward pulley 41to mount the next available chordal segments operator-carrier. Thus, sixcarcasses located between pulleys 41 and 43 could be easily handled by ateam of six workmen, two of whom would be getting ready on stationaryplatform 65E. Of course, the exact number of workmen to be assigned tothe conveyor-line proximal-segment 45 would be dependent upon theselected speed of the conveyor-line C, and the incremental spacingtherealong of the suspended animal carcasses.

Assuming that the first team of workers have deposited the carcassviscera upon the tabletop 53E(which is rotating in the selectedcounterclockwise direction of FIG. 4), a second team of workmen might beemployed in conjunction with rotating turntable 50E to perform sortingor other work upon the viscera. In this vein, there is a horizontaloutward stationary platform 60E having an arcuate inner terminus 61Elocated below tabletop 53E and an arcuate outer terminus 62E locatedradially outwardly of tabletop 53E. Stationary platform 60E has aleading end 63E nearer to pulleys 39 and 43 and has a trailing end 64Emore remote from said pulleys. There might be a relatively lofty secondinward stationary platform 69E positioned sectorially nearer to outwardplatform leading end 63E and a bank of downwardly extending chutes 71-73located downstream of platform trailing end 64E. Thus, workmen stationedupon the outward operator-carrier 75 of the respective turntable chordalsegments might perform their assigned tasks upon visceral carried bytabletop 53E, certain viscera portions being manually cast ontostationary platform 69E, while remaining sorted viscera could bedirected into one of the chutes 71-73. A workman upon completing hisassigned task would depart from the operator-carrier 75 as he nearstrailing end 6415 whereupon the workman could walk along stationaryplatform 60E in the FIG. 4 clockwise direction to mount the nextavailable chordal segment of turntable 50E.

The regularly polygonal turntable 50E of FIGS. 4-6 has, for the purposesof illustration herein, 12 straight chordal segments 53K. However, it isto be understood that the number of chordal segments might bearbitrarily varied or selected. The 12 identical straight chordalsegments 53K together define tabletop 53E, and each of the straightchordal side segments 53K is detachable from the two immediatelyadjacent chordal segments 53K. As can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6,each chordal segment 53K comprises a pair of downwardly pivotablyattached trapezoidal plates 54K and 55K, each rotatably secured to ahorizontal pivot-pin 56. There is an inner-plate 54K 12 suchinner-plates 54K together defining tabletop inward peripheralboundary54B), and there is an outer-plate 55K (12 such outer-plates 55K togetherdefining tabletop outward peripheral-boundary 55E).

As is alluded to in FIG. 4 for the herein counterclockwise rotatableturntable 50E, the majority (herein nine) of the chordal segments 53Kfor annular rotatable tabletop 53E need to be maintained horizontallyelevated above the factory floor F. In this vein, and as seen in FIG. 5,there is an annular stationary-base 90 (having an inverted-U regularcross-sectional shape) and having a planar upper surface 91, saidannular-base 90 (including surface 91) circularly concentricallysurrounding turntable upright-axis 51 and being nonrotatably fixedlyattached to factory floor F" as by bolts 92. There is an annularrevolvable-base 95, circularly concentrically surrounding turntableupright-axis 51, the lower side of horizontal revolvable-base 95 beingprovided with depending wheels 96 for rollable support upon thestationary-base annular upper surface 91. Extending integrally upwardlyfrom revolvablebase 95 and attached to pivot-pin 56 is an elevator-bar57 which serves to maintain the pivot-pin 56 portion of rotatabletabletop 53E horizontally parallel to upper surface 91 and to floor F."The inward and outward L-shaped operator-carriers 74 and 75 areintegrally attached to and extend downwardly from the annularrevolvable-base 95 and thus co-rotatable with tabletop 535. Each of theplates 54K and 55K of each chordal segment 53K carries a dependingroller which extends through an opening of rotatable-base 95 androllably engages a stationary track means annularly surroundingupright-axis 51. Specifically, each inner-side 54K carries a pluralityof depending rollers 58 extending downwardly through an opening 99 inrevolvable-base 95 and engages a non-revolvable horizontal track 94 thatis attached along the annular upper portion of stationary-base 90.Similarly, each outer-plate 55K carries a plurality of depending rollers59 extending downwardly through an opening 99 in revolvable-base 95 andengages a non-revolvable horizontal track 93 that is attached along theupper portion of stationary-base 90. Thus, it can be seen from FIG. 5that with the horizontally level annular tracks 93 and 94, together withroller diameters for 58-59 which substantially equal the height ofpivot-pin 56 above the stationary-base 90, the respective pivotablyassociated plates 54K and 55K will provide horizontal chordal segments53K for the revolvable tabletop 53E.

There are means for causing downwardly pivoting of one or both of theplates 54K-55K about the horizontal pivot-pin 56. For example, asalluded to in FIG. 4, it is oftentimes desireable to temporarilydownwardly pivot the outer-plate 55K at an opportune time to dump aviscera portion into a selected downwardly extending chute 71-73. Or, itis oftentimes desireable to temporarily downwardly pivot both plates 54Kand 55K to allow one or more chordal-sections 53K to pass through asterilizer unit. In this vein, and as alluded to in FIG. 6, a shortsection 93A of track 93 might be pivotably attached, as by pin 93B, tostationary-base 90. Thus, temporary downward pivoting of track section93A at the strategic moment by remote control means (not shown) willcause roller 59 and outer-plate 55K to be depressed downwardly frompivot-pin 56 thereby causing classified viscera be dumped into aselected chute, e.g., 71. As also seen in FIG. 6, a short section 94A oftrack 94 might be pivotably attached, as by pin 943, to stationary-base90. Thus, if both short track sections 93A and 94A are temporarilydepressed, both plates 54K and 55K will pivot downwardly of pivot-pin 56to allow a dual-plates chordal-segment 53K to pass through a sterilizerunit before resuming a horizontal condition immediately downstream ofpulley 41.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the revolvableassembly-line processing stations will be readily understood and furtherexplanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in theart, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a factory type installation for processing a movable processing offactory-work pieces such as animal carcasses and including an elongatecontinuously movable elevated conveyor of selectively variable speed andbeing adapted to carry at selected intervals therealong a plurality offactory-work pieces whereby factory personnel strategically stationedalong the movable conveyor can perform assigned processing tasks uponthe consecutively passing factory-work pieces, an improved processingstation for the factory personnel and comprising: a generally horizontalturntable surrounding an upright-axis and being adapted to rotatablytravel at a selectable angular velocity about said upright-axis, a minorlength proximal portion of said conveyor being elevated above saidrotatable turntable and having a generally arcuate configuration pathwhereby said conveyor is spaced a substantially constant radial distancefrom the turntable upright-axis, means for causing the turntable and theconveyor minor length proximal portion to travel at similar angularvelocities about said turntable upright-axis, and at least onesubstantially stationary platform positioned immediately adjacent to therotatable turntable and extending sectorially of the turntableupright-axis to facilitate maneuverability of factory personnel from therotatable turntable to a said stationary platform.

2. The improved factory processing station of claim 1 wherein thecontinuously movable conveyor is an overhead conveyor-line adapted toremovably suspendably carry at selected intervals therealong a pluralityof depending meat animal carcasses; and wherein the generally arcuateproximal portion of said conveyor-line provides a generally arcuatesector exceeding about 30 with respect to the turntable upright-axis.

3. The turntable carcass dressing station of claim 2 wherein theconveyor-line proximal portion and the underlying turntable are adaptedto travel continuously at a constant angular velocity; wherein thecontinuously rotatable turntable has an outward peripheralboundarycompletely concentrically surrounding the turntable upright-axis; andwherein the turntable is elevated above the floor level of the factorytype installation.

4. The turntable dressing station of claim 3 wherein the turntable hasan inward peripheral-boundary completely surrounding the turntableupright-axis whereby the turntable has a radial-width extending radiallyoutwardly from the inward peripheral-boundary to the outwardperipheral-boundary; and wherein there is a substantially horizontalinward stationary platform extending radially inwardly from and detachedfrom the turntable inward peripheral-boundary.

5. The turntable dressing station of claim 4 wherein at least one ofsaid stationary platforms extends peripherally along at least 25 percentof a turntable peripheral-boundary and is adapted to carry factorypersonnel thereon.

6. The turntable dressing station of claim 5 wherein at least a portionof one of said stationary platforms extends between the turntable inwardand outward peripheral-boundaries to minimize the possibility of injuryto factory personnel.

7. The turntable dressing station of claim 1 wherein the turntablestructure includes a substantially horizontal tabletop portion andfurther includes depending operator-carrier means in co-rotatablerelationship with the said tabletop portion.

8. The turntable dressing station of claim 7 wherein the dependingoperator-carrier means effectively completely surrounds the saidturntable upright-axis.

9. The turntable dressing station of claim 8 wherein the turntabletabletop portion has a substantially constant radially extendingfinite-width defined by an outerboundary and an inner-boundary for saidtabletop, both said tabletop boundaries surrounding the turntableupright-axis.

10. The turntable dressing station of claim 9 wherein the tabletopouter-boundary and inner-boundary are of regular polygonal shape; andwherein each chordal segment of the tabletop respective boundaries isprovided with a co-rotatable underlying operator-carrier.

11. The turntable processing station of claim 1 wherein the turntableincludes a substantially horizontal tabletop portion having asubstantially constant ra dially extending finite-width defined by anouterboundary and an inner-boundary for said tabletop portion, both saidtabletop boundaries being of geometrically similar polygonal shape andconcentrically surrounding the turntable upright-axis.

12. The turntable station of claim 11 wherein each straight chordal sideof said polygonal tabletop is detachable from the two adjacent chordalsides for said polygonal tabletop.

13. The turntable station of claim 12 wherein each chordal tabletop sidecomprises a pair of downwardly pivotably attached horizontal platesincluding an innerplate extending along the tabletop inner-boundary andan outer-plate extending along the tabletop outerboundary, theinner-plate and the outer-plate being selectively independentlydownwardly pivotal ancillary to sterilizing and viscera sortingoperations.

14. The turntable structure of claim 13 wherein there is at least onedepending operator-carrier positioned remote from the tabletopfinite-width and co-rotatable with the tabletop.

1. In a factory type installation for processing a movable processing of factory-work pieces such as animal carcasses and including an elongate continuously movable elevated conveyor of selectively variable speed and being adapted to carry at selected intervals therealong a plurality of factory-work pieces whereby factory personnel strategically stationed along the movable conveyor can perform assigned processing tasks upon the consecutively passing factory-work pieces, an improved processing station for the factory personnel and comprising: a generally horizontal turntable surrounding an upright-axis and being adapted to rotatably travel at a selectable angular velocity about said upright-axis, a minor length proximal portion of said conveyor being elevated above said rotatable turntable and having a generally arcuate configuration path whereby said conveyor is spaced a substantially constant radial distance from the turntable upright-axis, means for causing the turntable and the conveyor minor length proximal portion to travel at similar angular velocities about said turntable upright-axis, and at least one substantially stationary platform positioned immediately adjacent to the rotatable turntable and extending sectorially of the turntable upright-axis to facilitate maneuverability of factory personnel from the rotatable turntable to a said stationary platform.
 2. The improved factory processing station of claim 1 wherein the continuously movable conveyor is an overhead conveyor-line adapted to removably suspendably carry at selected intervals therealong a plurality of depending meat animal carcasses; and wherein the generally arcuate proximal portion of said conveyor-line provides a generally arcuate sector exceeding about 30* with respect to the turntable upright-axis.
 3. The turntable carcass dressing station of claim 2 wherein the conveyor-line proximal portion and the underlying turntable are adapted to travel continuously at a constant angular velocity; wherein the continuously rotatable turntable has an outward peripheral-boundary completely concentrically surrounding the turntable upright-axis; and wherein the turntable is elevated above the floor level of the factory type installation.
 4. The turntable dressing station of claim 3 wherein the turntable has an inward peripheral-boundary completely surrounding the turntable upright-axis whereby the turntable has a radial-width extending radially outwardly from the inward peripheral-boundary to the outward peripheral-boundary; and wherein there is a substantially horizontal inward stationary platform extending radially inwardly from and detached from the turntable inward peripheral-boundary.
 5. The turntable dressing station of claim 4 wherein at least one of said stationary platforms extends peripherally along at least 25 percent of a turntable peripheral-boundary and is adapted to carry factory personnel thereon.
 6. The turntable dressing station of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of one of said stationary platforms extends between the turntable inward and outward peripheral-boundaries to minimize the possibility of injury to factory personnel.
 7. The turntable dressing station of claim 1 wherein the turntable structure includes a substantially horizontal tabletop portion and further includes depending operator-carrier means in co-rotatable relationship with the said tabletop portion.
 8. The turntable dressing station of claim 7 wherein the depending operator-carrier means effectively completely surrounds the said turntable upright-axis.
 9. The turntable dressing station oF claim 8 wherein the turntable tabletop portion has a substantially constant radially extending finite-width defined by an outer-boundary and an inner-boundary for said tabletop, both said tabletop boundaries surrounding the turntable upright-axis.
 10. The turntable dressing station of claim 9 wherein the tabletop outer-boundary and inner-boundary are of regular polygonal shape; and wherein each chordal segment of the tabletop respective boundaries is provided with a co-rotatable underlying operator-carrier.
 11. The turntable processing station of claim 1 wherein the turntable includes a substantially horizontal tabletop portion having a substantially constant radially extending finite-width defined by an outer-boundary and an inner-boundary for said tabletop portion, both said tabletop boundaries being of geometrically similar polygonal shape and concentrically surrounding the turntable upright-axis.
 12. The turntable station of claim 11 wherein each straight chordal side of said polygonal tabletop is detachable from the two adjacent chordal sides for said polygonal tabletop.
 13. The turntable station of claim 12 wherein each chordal tabletop side comprises a pair of downwardly pivotably attached horizontal plates including an inner-plate extending along the tabletop inner-boundary and an outer-plate extending along the tabletop outer-boundary, the inner-plate and the outer-plate being selectively independently downwardly pivotal ancillary to sterilizing and viscera sorting operations.
 14. The turntable structure of claim 13 wherein there is at least one depending operator-carrier positioned remote from the tabletop finite-width and co-rotatable with the tabletop. 